Thread: Differential

Get the tuning stuff from Scott and look in the folder that applies to trans. You'll find what you need on which way it goes in there. Sorry to see it. Not very common, but it does happen.

I did pull it out today and look at it for damage. I mightve pulled it out the other day. I dont remember, especially with this heat. I know its installed correctly for sure now, recessed side against the parking gear.

Swapped pins and my diff is back in now. Only think is when i slide the cover on, i have to push to get it to sit flush with the case. The output shalf is pushing outwards towards me as I push in on the locked in place diff. is this normal?

Can be.. if the output shaft isn't locked in yet. I typically would have both cv's removed, the output shaft would be sticking out drivers side a little, put diff in, cover on. bolted down then tap the output shaft in and all is good. Couple cv's and done.

With no cover on and with the differential locked in place, as i push in on the differential, it pushes the output shaft. which i found is pushing on the drivers axle.

Put everything back together. Went a quarter mile and sounded almost like a loud clunk and it started making the noise again. Im i doing something wrong??????

With no diff in, I:
1. Slide the diff onto the output shaft
2. It gives a little resistance(lock ring?) as I push it on and line up the planet gears. But it snaps into place.
3. Make sure the magnetic looking washer and circle slide bearing thing are on the end of the diff.
4. Slide the diff cover on. Make sure the end of the diff sits in the needle bearing.
5. Align the cover up and finger screw in the 4 bolts(aligning the power steering bracket)
6. I have to push the cover a 1/4in against the case so its flush and tighten the 4 bolts in a cross pattern.

Are you going back and seating the output shaft into the diff? If you just push it in.. usually it'll not click in properly.

Yes I can see the clip on the output shaft once the diff is fully inserted.

I pulled the parking paw out and found this:

Is that the bearing that sits behind the pawl? Looks taller than I remember, I thought there was just one thin bearing back there that could easily pull forward and end up not allowing the cover to close. But you'd know it if that happens because it wouldn't want to go together...usually results in broken cover when trying to force it

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Is that the bearing that sits behind the pawl? Looks taller than I remember, I thought there was just one thin bearing back there that could easily pull forward and end up not allowing the cover to close. But you'd know it if that happens because it wouldn't want to go together...usually results in broken cover when trying to force it

Yes, parking gear. It sort of sits in it. Im assuming it fell the first time i had it apart.
I was able to find a new one locally. Installed everything again and went to put the cover on but it still wouldnt sit flush. So long story short, i gave the output shaft a nice tap and the cover then fit! But taking it for a ride, it still makes a whole lotta noise.

The diff in there now is my original but it has a few teeth that were nicked that i took the edge off with a file. It makes alot of noise just spinning the tire with my hand. I just pulled the VSS out and it have a tooth on it and very fine shavings. Last time I had the ring gear apart, it looked fine, shiny spot or too but no damage. Im not sure what to do at this point.

Hmmm

Have you done a pan drop at all?

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Hmmm

Have you done a pan drop at all?

Not yet. I was going to after everything was back to normal. I have the 2 magnets (that service bulletin) and the filter has only been in there for a few months.

Would a few chipped teeth make it that much louder?

I did go through the gears on the differential with a file and then sprayed it down with parts cleaner. I also went through each ring gear tooth with a flat head screw driver. Most of the debris ended up on the inside side/lip of the ring gear. In which I made sure i got all out.

Is it possible that when i jack it up, tipping all/most of the fluid towards the drivers side, that theres debris flowing that way too that I end up missing?

Definately. Also any debris that happened before you found it would get washed into the pan. The filter will keep it from being picked up, but it'll be either in the filter or pan.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Definately. Also any debris that happened before you found it would get washed into the pan. The filter will keep it from being picked up, but it'll be either in the filter or pan.

Update:

I ended up dropping the pan & draining out all of the fluid. Inside of the filter was clean but the magnet on the bottom of the pan was mostly full of very fine shavings.

Ended up finding a local place here that basically parts out motors & transmissions. So for $45 I picked up an entire 34 tooth HD final drive assembly(diff,output shaft, ring gear, parking gear, etc). The guy there said a lot of people break our differentials spinning in the snow lol. And they actually have an online store.

Installing it, i did have to give the output shaft a tap inward to be able to put the differential cover and have it sit flush. This still does not make sense to me why.
But I used assembly grease on everything, and after 100 miles now, everything seems to be alright.

~$200 to fix a 39 cent roll pin

Thank you to BillBoost and everyone for the help !